The SURFACE project (Interreg Central Europe), successfully closed in June 2020 after three years of activities with many good results paving the way for a future with re-use being a part of everyday life. SURFACE brought together ten partners from Central Europe to promote and run the so-called ‘Smart Re-Use Parks’. The ‘Smart Re-use Parks’ bring various re-use, repair and waste prevention activities to the citizens, offering them alternatives to […]
On 1 July 2020, the European Commission released a communication for a reinforced youth guarantee as part of a package to support youth in the turbulent backdrop of the global pandemic. The package ensures that all young persons from 15-29 receive a quality offer of employment, education, apprenticeship or traineeship within four months. As part of the communication, social economy organisations such as cooperatives and social enterprises have been commended […]
Today a group of 53 Members of the European Parliament (MEP) from across the political spectrum have written a letter to Commissioners Sinkevičius, Hogan, Reynders, and Urpilainen endorsing civil society’s approach to rethinking the global textile value chain. In their letter, MEPs stress the “need to adopt a truly comprehensive approach that deals with the various issues highlighted in [the] civil society strategy, including human rights, environment, governance, and gender”. […]
On 27 May, the European Commission revealed its revamped EU budget, a European Recovery Plan and its adjusted work programme, reaffirming the urgency for the post-coronavirus world to be “sustainable, even, inclusive and fair for all Member States”. Based on a first analysis and aware that discussions are still ongoing at EU level, RREUSE welcomes the recovery strategy as a big step in the right direction. However, more clarity is […]
Together with our members Insieme and Humana Nova, RREUSE is a partner in the SURFACE project, promoting opportunities for citizens to re-use, repair and prevent waste in Central Europe by creating ‘Smart Re-use Parks’. After three years, the project will close with a final conference with the theme: Re-Use as the Key Element of a Circular Economy in Central Europe and beyond. The conference will be held online with two […]
Europe’s economy stands at a juncture with COVID-19 exposing the fragility of the linear economy. The Social and Circular economy is vital, and has been severely affected along with its essential community services including re-use, repair, recycling, food redistribution and social services. Despite their flexibility and viability as economic and social partners, social enterprises are disadvantaged, unable to stop because of their social mission, yet suffering economic consequences. Following extensive consultation with […]
RREUSE is one of the 60+ NGOs calling on the EU to take action to ensure the textiles industry promotes environmental protection as well as inclusive, safe and fair working conditions. As the European Commission is poised to start developing a new ‘comprehensive strategy for textiles’ in the coming months, today a group of 65 diverse civil society organisations has set out its vision for the global Textile, Garments, Leather […]
The RREUSE network is delighted to welcome four new members from Germany, Lithuania and the UK, bringing the total RREUSE family count to 31 members across 26 European countries and the US. The four new members are FairWertung, WIRD, Now! Charity and Circular Economy Lithuania. Fully aligned with RREUSE’s activities and ambitions, all four entities are active in re-use, repair and/or recycling with an aim to improve, and positively contribute […]
Today, the EU Commission published its much-anticipated Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). Mathieu Rama, Senior Policy Officer at RREUSE, shared the following reaction: “A comprehensive upstream approach ensuring products are durable, repairable and re-useable is timely. Whilst tackling design of electrical products remains a priority, we welcome indications that other product categories such as textiles and furniture will also be addressed within a new Sustainable Product Policy”. Addressing our soaring […]
On 20 February 2020, the European Interreg project, 2LIFES, met in Brussels to discuss re-use initiatives from the public sector. Organised by RREUSE, this Workshop for Capacity-Building Building aimed to train and inform the partnership about the best re-use practices worldwide. Focusing on current re-use practices in Belgium, Yannick d’Otreppe from Bruxelles Environnement, a public authority, detailed Brussels’ regional project “Be Circular” which pushes for re-use within the building and […]